This is a quick but important note (okayed by Mark Cranford) for those of you still considering this Sunday's field trip to Tiny Marsh: The forecast is for cold, wet weather (a high of only 3 degrees Celcius with a combination of rain and snow), which are NOT ideal conditions for birding at Tiny Marsh, to say the least. Many sections of this large, open wetland are not wooded, so there is little protection from wind and rain. Normally we do the 8 km dike-hike out into the heart of the marsh in search of waterfowl, cranes, bitterns and osprey but if the predicted winds and rain do, in fact, materialize, this main component of the excursion would likely have to be scuttled. If the weather does not turn out to be as inclement as predicted, we will still go with that original plan or we could do a shorter hike in the morning in search of the Prothonotary Warbler (providing he has packed a nice little wool sweater or wet suit for survival) while scoping the marsh from its perimeter. This note is not meant to discourage any potential participants, but to give fair warning to those of you who have forgotten, or are unaware of, how open to the elements Tiny Marsh is. If you have any questions regarding the trip, feel free to contact me by using "Reply to Sender" or phone me at my home in Newmarket. My number is (905) 898-7216. Please do not phone later than 10:00 in the evening or any earlier than 7:00 in the morning. On Sunday I plan to leave my house in Newmarket at 7:40 to drive over to the designated meeting place at Hwys. 9 & 400 (8:00 a.m.), but PLEASE NOTE: If no one is at the main meeting place at 8:00 and the weather is brutal, I would prefer not to drive up to Tiny Marsh. (Still, if there are some "northern" participants who are intent on going there rain or shine, please contact me to let me know.) Ron Fleming, Newmarket
